Help Melissa's Fusion Japan Art Residency Fund.

I am thrilled to share that I have been selected to join the FUSION Japan cohort for Fall 2025! The program is located in Kaga, Japan, where I’ll have the incredible opportunity to explore various art forms alongside like-minded creatives from around the world. Japan holds a special place in my heart because it was the birthplace of my spark for creativity. As a kid, I was captivated by the art styles in anime and manga, which shaped my artistic journey. Being part of my first creative residency in Japan feels like a full-circle moment and an experience I am truly excited to embark on.

The funds raised will go toward covering the residency costs, which include housing, flight to and from the residency grounds, limited travel, and workshops. Additional funds will be set aside for food, travel expenses not covered by the program, and passion projects to help me continue building my portfolio.

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About Me:

My name is Melissa Jean-Charles, a multifaceted creative from Newark, NJ. Growing up in a dual-nationality home with a Guyanese mother and Haitian father, my culture has always been at the heart of who I am and how I express myself. I’ve loved art for as long as I can remember, and creating has always been my way of making sense of the world.

As a child, I taught myself to draw anime by spending countless hours watching Toonami on Cartoon Network. My self taught skillset led me to an art gifted program. In middle school, my mother gifted me my first digital camera, sparking a love for photography. By high school, I was taking classes in photography and digital publishing, transferring my creativity from pencil and paper to digital media.

Portraits by me.

I continued this journey at William Paterson University, earning my BA in Media Production. From childhood to now, art and storytelling have been the foundation of my identity. My brand, Guyatian Narrative, is a reflection of my Caribbean-American heritage and my passion for telling visual stories—not just my own but also helping others share theirs.

Carny Cuts Film Festival Winner

Fast forward to today, the same anime-loving girl who once caught hand cramps trying to draw the perfect Goku or Sailor Moon has been selected for the 2025 cohort of the FUSION Japan residency. Crazy how life comes full circle, right?

I’ve created this GoFundMe to help offset the residency cost. Ideally, covering 70% of the expenses would be amazing—but as always, I’m shooting for the stars. Any contribution, big or small, means the world to me, and if you’re unable to give, sharing my story with your loved ones would mean just as much.

Thank you so much for your support—it truly means the world. Let’s create and narrate stories together.